Dividing sinker with modules for tufting tools

ABSTRACT

A combination of a bar having a bore therein, and a tufting tool module for the bar including a bore extending therethrough. A fastening screw extending through the bore of the module, and threaded into a cooperatively threaded portion of the bore of the bar. The module has a plate shaped body having a first plane face which bears against a first plane face of the bar, and is urged into contact with that face by the fastening screw. There is a first stop strip extending from the first face and along a first edge of the module body. The first face of the module body is locked in a given angular position relative to the fastening screw. In one embodiment a first collar which projects from the first face of the module body, is positioned annularly around the bore and received in the bar with a locating fit. The first stop strip is closely adjacent the surface of the bar. In another embodiment the module is locked by an unthreaded portion of the shank of the fastening screw which extends through an unthreaded portion of the bore of the bar with a locating fit. In a third embodiment, the body is locked by a locking pin having one end seated in the module body adjacent its first plane surface, and the other end seated in the bar adjacent its first plane surface.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a bar with modules for tufting tools, inparticular a needle bar with needle modules, in which the tufting toolsare cast at one end into a plate-shaped basic module body, the length ofwhich corresponds to a multiple of the centre-to-centre distance of thecast-in tufting tools and which has a plane face which rests against thebar and which is provided with a projecting stop strip at its edgerunning longitudinally in the region of the emergence of the tuftingtools from the basic body, the said basic body having at least onecontinuous bore, through which a fastening screw can be screwed into athreaded bore.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

It is known to cast a row of tufting, knitting or Raschel tools, forexample needles or grippers, into a basic module body at an exactlocation and subsequently to fasten the modules, consisting of the toolsand the basic module body, to a bar, for example the needle bar of atufting machine. For fixing to the bar, the basic module body isprovided with a bore, through which a fastening screw is led. Acorresponding threaded bore is provided in the bar. In addition, thebasic module body has formed on it a rectangular stop strip which isintended to fix the module in the direction of the bar and whichtransmits the force acting in the direction of the tools from the moduleto the bar.

Particularly in the case of relatively long tools and when working withracked stitches, the considerable yarn forces on the tools result in atorque which acts on the modules and which may be so great that themodule is twisted. Although twisting is limited by the existing stopstrip, it is not prevented, since the stop strip, because of itstolerances, allows the module to twist, albeit only slightly. Even thistwisting is undesirable, since it leads to an irregular structure of thematerial produced by means of the tools, for example a tufting fabric.If the torque forces act in both directions, the module may even beloosened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object on which the invention is based is to design the modules orbars in such a way that twisting or loosening of a module is ruled out.

The object is achieved, according to the invention, in that the basicmodule body, when its stop strip rests closely against the bar, ispositioned against the bar by means of a locating connection.

Inventively, the arrangement may be designed in such a way that thelocating connection has a collar projecting on the plane face as well asa matching recess in the bar.

Inventively, the arrangement may be designed in such a way that thecollar surrounds the bore in the module annularly.

Inventively, the arrangement may also be designed in such a way that thefastening screw takes the form of a locating screw which is seated witha locating fit in the bore of the module.

Inventively, the arrangement may also be designed in such a way that atleast one locating pin is provided which engages with one end into thebasic module body and with its other end into the bar.

Inventively, the arrangement may be designed in such a way that the stopstrip is formed on both sides of the module.

Inventively, the arrangement may also be designed in such a way that thecollar is formed on both sides of the module.

The advantage of arranging the stop strip or the collar on both sides ofthe module is that the module may also be installed so as to be rotatedthrough 180°.

Inventively, the arrangement may be designed in such a way that thecollar or collars is or are formed on the module by theinjection-molding method.

The advantage of the invention is that the module is permanently fixedto the bar in all directions and the possibility of loosening is ruledout.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to twoexemplary embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a partially sectional side view of the arrangementaccording to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a partially sectional side view of the arrangementaccording to FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a conventional type of fastening of a needlemodule to a needle bar,

FIG. 6 shows a front view of the arrangement according to FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows a partially sectional side view of a third embodiment ofthe invention,

FIG. 8 shows a partially sectional side view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention, and

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the fourth embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The module shown in the figures has a basic body 1 with a bearing face2. The butts of tufting needles 3 are cast into the basic body 1. Themodule rests with the bearing face 2 against a needle bar 4. The basicbody 1 is provided with a bore 5. The module is fastened to the needlebar 4 by means of a screw 6.

The axes of the tufting needles 3 lie parallel to one another in a planeof symmetry of the basic body 1.

FIG. 5 shows the conventional fastening of a needle module to a needlebar. The basic module body 1 has, at the lower end, a stop strip 7 whichprojects relative to the bearing face 2 and which is intended to limitthe movement of the module in the vertical direction. On account of thetolerances, however, a slight twisting of the module may neverthelessoccur, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6.

FIG. 1, then, shows the design according to the invention. The basicmodule body 1 is connected to the needle bar 4 with a locating fit. Forthis purpose, the bearing face 2 of the basic body 1 has formed on it acollar 8 which surrounds the bore 5 coaxially and which engages with alocating fit into a corresponding recess in the needle bar 4 and fixesthe needle module in the plane of the bearing face 2. Moreover, the stopstrip 7, with respect to the bore 5, and the bore 11 in the needle bar4, with respect to the edge 12 of the needle bar 4, operate so as tobring about a locating fit, thereby ensuring the security of the moduleagainst twisting relative to the bar 4. By means of the locatingconnections, the module is thus fixed in all directions and can nolonger be twisted or loosened, even under high load, including torqueforces.

FIG. 3 shows a further variant of the invention. Instead of the locatingconnection made by means of the collar 8, as provided according to FIG.1, and a corresponding recess, a locating connection between the screw 6and the basic needle module body 1 is provided. For this purpose, thescrew 6 is designed as a locating screw and has a threadless shank part9, the cross-section of which is slightly larger than the cross-sectionof the threaded part 10. The bore 5 and shank part 9 operate so as toensure a locating fit, so that no relative movement is possible betweenthe screw 6 and the module. Together with the locating fit ensured bythe stop strip 7 and the edge 12 of the needle bar 4, any movability ofthe module relative to the needle bar 4 in the assembled state isreliably prevented.

FIG. 7 shows a variation of FIG. 2 where the collar 8 is formed on bothsides of the basic module body 1, that on the second side beingdesignated 8', and the stop strip 7 is formed on both sides of the body1, that on the second side being designated 7'.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another variant where pins 13, which are received inrecesses 14 and 15, provide a locating connection which fixes the needlemodule 1 in the plane of the face 2 and ensures the security of themodule against twisting relative to the bar 4.

The embodiments described have been illustrated and described solely inconjunction with tufting needles. Instead of needles, however, thearrangement may also extend to other tools, for example loopers andgrippers.

We claim:
 1. In combination, a bar having a bore therein, a tufting toolmodule therefor, said tufting tool module having a bore extendingtherethrough, and a fastening screw extending through the bore of saidtool module, and being threaded into a cooperatively threaded portion ofthe bore of said bar, said module comprising a plate shaped module bodyhaving a first plane face which bears against a first plane face of saidbar, and is urged into contact with the first face of said bar by saidfastening screw, a first stop strip extending from the first face ofsaid module body and along a first edge thereof, a plurality of tuftingtools supported in said body, adjacent to said first stop strip, andextending from said body, and means locking the first face of saidmodule body in a given angular position relative to said fasteningscrew, said last-named means comprising a first collar projecting fromsaid first face of said module body, being positioned annularly aroundsaid bore, and being received in a recess in said bar in which saidfirst collar has a locating fit, said tool module being in such arotational position relative to said bar, and being so shaped, that saidfirst stop strip is closely adjacent the first surface of said bar. 2.An assembly of a bar, a tufting tool module therefor, and a fasteningscrew as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tool module has a second planeface and a second stop strip extending from the second face of saidmodule body and along a first edge thereof, and said module is so shapedthat it can be assembled with said bar and said fastening screw so that,when said module is in a given rotational position, the second face ofsaid module body bears against the first face of said bar and saidsecond stop strip is closely adjacent said first surface of said bar. 3.An assembly of a bar, a tufting tool module therefor, and a fasteningscrew as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a second collar whichprojects from the second face of said module body, is positionedannularly around said bore, and is sized to be received in the recess insaid bar and to have a locating fit therewith.
 4. An assembly of a bar,a tufting tool module therefor, and a fastening screw as claimed inclaim 1 or 3 wherein said collar or each of said collars is formed onthe module by an injection molding method.
 5. In combination, a barhaving a bore therein, a tufting tool module therefor, said tufting toolmodule having a bore extending therethrough, and a fastening screwextending through the bore of said tool module, and being threaded intoa cooperatively threaded portion of the bore of said bar, said modulecomprising a plate shaped module body having a first plane face whichbears against a first plane face of said bar, and is urged into contactwith the first face of said bar by said fastening screw, a first stopstrip extending from the first face of said module body and along afirst edge thereof, a plurality of tufting tools supported in said body,adjacent to said first stop strip, and extending from said body, andmeans locking the first face of said module body in a given angularposition relative to said fastening screw, said last-named meanscomprising an unthreaded portion of the shank of said fastening screwwhich extends through an unthreaded portion of the bore of said bar, andis sized to have a locating fit therewith, said tool module being insuch a rotational position relative to said bar, and being so shaped,that said first stop strip is closely adjacent the first surface of saidbar.
 6. In combination, a bar having a bore therein, a tufting toolmodule therefor, said tufting tool module having a bore extendingtherethrough, and a fastening screw extending through the bore of saidtool module, and being threaded into a cooperatively threaded portion ofthe bore of said bar, said module comprising a plate shaped module bodyhaving a first plane face which bears against a first plane face of saidbar, and is urged into contact with the first face of said bar by saidfastening screw, a first stop strip extending from the first face ofsaid module body and along a first edge thereof, a plurality of tuftingtools supported in said body, adjacent to said first stop strip, andextending from said body, and means locking the first face of saidmodule body in a given angular position relative to said fasteningscrew, said last-named means comprising a locking pin with one endseated in said module body adjacent said first plane surface thereof andthe other end seated in said bar adjacent said first plane surfacethereof, said tool module being in such a rotational position relativeto said bar, and being so shaped, that said first stop strip is closelyadjacent the first surface of said bar.